News

2014 Alumni Awards

September 15, 2014

Northwestern University School of Law will recognize five alumni and a foundation for their accomplishments and contributions to the Law School at the 2014 Alumni Awards Luncheon held September 19 at the University Club in Chicago. The awards luncheon, which recognizes alumni for their career accomplishments, dedication and service to the Law School, is part of Northwestern Law’s All Alumni Weekend and Reunion, which welcomes alumni and guests back to the Chicago campus for alumni and faculty panels, activities, tours, programming and receptions. Tickets to the luncheon are available on the alumni website.

The 2014 Alumni Award recipients:

DEAN’S LEGACY AWARDHonorable John Paul StevensThe Honorable John Paul Stevens (JD ’47) will receive Northwestern Law’s inaugural Dean’s Legacy Award. Stevens, a retired associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, spent 40 years on the bench and is the third longest-serving justice in U.S. history. Since retiring from the Supreme Court in 2010, Stevens has published several books and visited the Law School, most recently in 2011, when he served as convocation speaker and participated in a symposium on his legacy.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDCarter PhillipsCarter Phillips (JD ’77) will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, which is given to a graduate for his or her extraordinary contributions to the legal field and school. Phillips is a partner and chair of the executive committee at Sidley Austin LLC. He has argued 78 cases before the Supreme Court, giving him the highest total of any lawyer currently in private practice. Phillips served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger on the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as to Judge Robert Sprecher on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2013, he was named to the National Law Journal’s list of “The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America.” Phillips delivered the Law School’s convocation address in May.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDPaul A. MeisterPaul Meister (JD ’87), vice chairman and chair of the Operations Committee of Grosvenor Capital Management, will be awarded the Volunteer Service Award for his continued commitment to the Law School. An adjunct professor at the Law School, Meister also currently serves on the Law Board’s executive committee and was the Law Board chair for three years ending this past spring. Meister has been a member of the Law Board since 2000. Before joining Grosvenor, Meister was an associate with the law firm Barack, Ferrazzano, Kirschbaum & Perlman.

DAWN CLARK NETSCH PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDTina TchenTina Tchen (JD ’84) will receive the Dawn Clark Netsch Public Service Award. Tchen has served as an assistant to President Barack Obama and chief of staff to the First Lady since 2011. Following her graduation from the Law School, Tchen spent 25 years at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. She was a partner at Skadden for 13 years before being appointed to the Obama administration. In addition to her role as chief of staff to the First Lady, Tchen also currently serves as the executive director for the Council on Women and Girls.

EMERGING LEADER AWARDTodd Lawrence BelcoreTodd Belcore (JD ’10) will receive the Emerging Leader Award, which is presented to a graduate of the last 10 years in recognition of his or her career achievements. Belcore currently serves as a staff attorney for the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. He began working at the Shriver Center following his graduation from Northwestern and focuses on ensuring that individuals with criminal records can find employment. In 2011, Belcore was named a White House Champion of Change.

DEAN’S PARTNERSHIP AWARDKenneth F. and Harle G. Montgomery FoundationA major proponent of clinical programs at the Law School, the Kenneth F. and Harle G. Montgomery Foundation will receive the Dean’s Partnership Award. Established in 1993, the organization funds educational projects worldwide. The foundation has supported Northwestern Law for nearly 15 years, providing grants supporting the Bluhm Legal Clinic’s work on juvenile justice and wrongful convictions, and establishing both the Montgomery Foundation Clinical Fellowship and most recently the Montgomery Foundation Environmental Fellowship in the Clinic. The award recognizes the foundation for its continued support and investment in the Law School.